Arnold School of Public Health

Flexible Major

Public health is a great major for students who want a future in health. It gives you many career options and helps you understand how to improve health for entire communities, not just one person at a time. 

In public health, you learn how health is shaped by many things, including where people live, the food they can access, the air they breathe, the schools they attend, the jobs they have and the health care available to them. You also learn how to prevent health problems before they start. 

This major can help prepare you for graduate school, medical school or careers in health education, research, health policy, environmental health, community health, health care leadership and more. It is a strong choice for students who 1) like science and 2) care about people and want a career that makes a difference in the world.

10 Reasons to Study Public Health  

• You can prepare for many different health careers.  

• If you’re not sure about your path to a future in health care, a public health degree lets you explore your interests without changing your major so you can remain competitive in the long term. 

• You want to build a strong foundation for medical school, physician associate programs, dental school or other health programs but also stand out in your applications by complementing your standard prerequisites. 

• You want to study real issues like disease, nutrition, pollution, mental health, health care access and health equity. 

• You want to learn how communities, schools, workplaces, policies and environments affect health. 

• You want to gain useful skills in communication, research, problem-solving, data and program planning. 

• You want to explore careers in hospitals, government agencies, nonprofits, research centers, community organizations and health care companies. 

• You want to help solve problems that affect families and communities with opportunities for world-class research at the undergraduate level. 

• You want to keep your career options open while building a strong health-focused degree. 
• You want to turn your interest in science and helping people into a meaningful career.  

 

I have numerous experiences that I can discuss in interviews and reflect upon to determine where my career interests remain, and the research and leadership opportunities offered by USC in the Arnold School are unparalleled. I cannot think of a better place to learn about science, about the real world, about communication strategies, and more.

 

Why Employers are Looking for Public Health Graduates 

Employers value public health graduates because they bring both practical workplace skills and specialized health training. They know how to analyze problems, communicate clearly, work with communities and use data to support decisions that improve health. Public health students are taught: 

• Communication: Explain ideas clearly in writing, presentations and conversations. 

• Critical thinking: Analyze problems, recognize patterns and make informed decisions. 

• Teamwork: Work well with people from different backgrounds and fields. 

• Equity and inclusion: Understand barriers that affect opportunity, access and health. 

• Leadership: Help organize people, projects and shared goals. 

• Professionalism: Show dependability, accountability and ethical judgment. 

• Technology: Use digital tools to communicate, analyze information and solve problems. 

• Career readiness: Build flexible skills that apply across health care, nonprofits, government, research and community organizations. 

 

Program Highlights 

• Qualifies for the $2,500 annual LIFE Enhancement Scholarship for eligible S.C. LIFE scholarship recipients 

• All students gain practical experience in their field of interest, whether through a field project or independent research 

• Make new friends and participate in student organizations such as the Public Health Society.  

 

• Information Sessions

  Join a prospective student information session to learn more about the B.S. in Exercise Science at USC and ask questions from program faculty and advisors.

• Campus Tours

  There’s so much more to a Public Health degree at USC. Join us on our 400+ acre campus and see for yourself!